running deer

[Shadow Man]

I went to a range with one of my father's friends, and they had a similar set-up. I was using an old Stevens bolt action .30-30 with some old handloads. (by old, I mean 1960's old) Rules were 3 shots, and they would score your target and send a card back with your shots marked and scored. Best score won the pot, about $50. When my turn came, I stepped up to the line and squeezed off one shot. When I went to cycle the bolt, it failed to extract the empty brass. Turns out that the handload had swelled when I fired it, and was now firmly lodged in the chamber. When they returned the score card though, that one shot had made a perfect hole between the target deer's eyes. If I had gotten the next two shots off and hit the deer anywhere, I would have had the winning score. Alas, it did not work out that way, and an older gent won the pot using a Lee-Enfield in .303.

Two valuable lessons were learned though: A; don't use those handloads, and B; since that shot was pure luck, I should probably not take a shot at a running deer. Coincidentaly, that was the last season I went hunting...just doesn't appeal to me anymore, for a variety of reasons.

 

[MT GUNNY]

When a Home invader is running towards your wife you should not Fire! Its Unethical, you might only wound him.










I'm sorry I just had to..

 

[Mr. T]

Shooting at running deer.

I'm sorry, but for those people who only pick up their weapons once a year without much shooting experience through the year....yeah I suppose you shouldn't try to shoot a moving deer. Here's another thought -- if you don't shoot at them you surely won't hit them. I have been shooting running deer since I've been twelve. I shot five deer last year out of the six that I saw...they were all running...full speed not 6 miles per hour...full speed. It can be done very effectively if you have practice. In my deer hunting group, we drive deer, so they're all running. Too many people out there are watching too much TV programs about hunting. In 30 years of hunting I've lost (1) deer out of 90 to 100+. I'm not bragging, because all the hunters in my group can do pretty much the same thing when it's their turn to stand. Some deer get shot on the drive by drivers, but for the most part the standers get the majority of the shooting and the deer are running. The reason the TV shows show you that the hunter waits until the deer has stopped moving is because they don't want to give PETA anything to bitch about. However with practice, there's no reason a running deer can't be shot just as ethically as one standing perfectly still.

 

[All4eyes]

I would like to see the "I will not shoot at a running deer," crowd hunt the flat land of ND. You will never get a shot. Shooting at a running animal takes practice, just as hitting a standing deer at 500+ yds. I practice on running animals here, fox, coyote, rabbit, pheasant, grouse, and partridge are all part of the mix. All you need is practice, and it can be done. On a side note how many rounds do you "standing deer only" shooters shoot before you head out for the season. Me I shoot a couple of thousand between the .22 and the highpowers.

 

[lobo9er]

Me I shoot a couple of thousand between the .22 and the highpowers

if you got the money to burn depending on the 22 to high power ratio.

 

[All4eyes]

Handloading is your friend here. I try to shoot 500 .22 rounds a week, to keep in practice for winter league. Around 50 to 100 through the highpowers for fall, and wat to many through the scattergun for upland. Yes, I do miss, but only when I miss.

 

[niteowl]

I would like to see the "I will not shoot at a running deer," crowd hunt the flat land of ND. You will never get a shot. Shooting at a running animal takes practice, just as hitting a standing deer at 500+ yds. I practice on running animals here, fox, coyote, rabbit, pheasant, grouse, and partridge are all part of the mix. All you need is practice, and it can be done. On a side note how many rounds do you "standing deer only" shooters shoot before you head out for the season. Me I shoot a couple of thousand between the .22 and the highpowers.

amen.

Too many people out there are watching too much TV programs about hunting. In 30 years of hunting I've lost (1) deer out of 90 to 100+. I'm not bragging, because all the hunters in my group can do pretty much the same thing when it's their turn to stand. Some deer get shot on the drive by drivers, but for the most part the standers get the majority of the shooting and the deer are running. The reason the TV shows show you that the hunter waits until the deer has stopped moving is because they don't want to give PETA anything to bitch about. However with practice, there's no reason a running deer can't be shot just as ethically as one standing perfectly still.

exactly. if we all hunted like the outdoor TV shows on Sunday morning, we'd all be driving Chevrolets, be dressed up in RealTree camo, and shooting Thompson Center rifles....

 

[ColeK]

Apparently very few of you have hunted game with dogs. All shots are running.

I was started on small game at an early age and moved up. It's not hard once you have learned how.

The problem most hunters have is that most haven't hunted small running game with a .22.

 

[rizbunk77]

I say it depends on how hungry your family is for the meat.

 

[Double Naught Spy]

Moving targets are tough. That is part of the reason why I regularly train with them. However, I don't believe in taking unnecessary shots.

My first hog was taken as it ran, but it was only at 25 yards (close) and I was using a rested .45-70 with a red dot and I tracked it before pulling the trigger. DRT.

 

[rbernie]

A bounding, trotting deer is totally doable.

Absolutely, especially if you have the time to get into some form of supported field-expedient position (e.g. kneeling) and even moreso if you get the time to 'swing'.

I say it depends on how hungry your family is for the meat.

My taking a shot at moving game is not driven by hunger - it's driven by a confidence in my ability to make the shot. If I'm not confident - I don't pull The Bang Switch. If I am confident that it's gonna be a killing shot, then I shoot.

Simple, really.

 

[Offfhand]

I have hunted big game in Finland and three times in Sweden and each time I had to pass a shooting test to get a hunting permit. The target was a running moose target at 100 meters and after a few practice shots my hunting pals and I were consistently putting our shots in the target's kill zone. Another time, on a driven game hunt in Eastern Europe, our hunting party bagged several Europen boar and all were running shots. European hunters, I have found, tend to be excellent marksmen at running game because they practice on running targets and expect most of their shots at live game to be moving if not running flat out. I'm confident that if American hunters practiced on running targets they would be every bit as skilled as the Europeans. But having said that, I do not think it would be a good thing if Americans were required to pass a running dear test, or any other form of marksmanship test, in order to get a hunting license. Hunting is a basic American freedom and we should remain free to hit, or miss, a deer in any safe way we choose without having someone else's sense of sportsmanship imposed upon us.

 

[blackops]

It all depends on your respect for the animal and how experienced of a shot you are. I’m not the best shot nor am I the worst, but I think a shot on a moving deer is more of a desperation/happy trigger finger deal. It’s tough for hunters that have game within range to not pull the trigger at least once and I understand that side of the argument. I myself don’t feel that I am good enough to clip the vitals on a moving deer at 200yds. I also believe that many hunters who think they are simply aren’t. How many hunters that take moving shots actually practice it? I highly doubt many.